New Listing. Price £87.50. Special Offer. Buy 2 Bottles for £85.00 each. THE FINEST EXPRESSION OF THE BEST GRANDS CRUS VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE: A true work of craftsmanship, Perle  d’Ayala is produced in small quantities, only in outstanding vintages and using traditional local techniques. It is aged in the House’s cellars under cork for at least 8 years in bottles, allowing the development of a complex aromatic range sought-after by connoisseurs.   Crafted exclusively from Grand Cru grapes, with a majority of Chardonnay and a touch of Pinot Noir, this cuvée immortalises the House style and truly reflects the quintessential Champagne terroir.   Tasting Notes: A prestige cuvee has to be a masterpiece. The Cuvee Perle d’Ayala deserves its name as the House itself is a jewel in Champagne. Of course the grapes come exclusively from Grand Cru vineyards, and are harvested in a vintage year. The cuvee is made with the base wine of the vintage Blanc de Blancs to which the cellar master adds 20 % of Grand Cru Pinot Noir.   What makes the Perle so unique is that it is aged in the cellars with a natural cork closure, which enables the wine to have an exchange with the air and to develop beautiful and complex aromas. The disgorgement is done entirely by hand, which is the way it used to be done in the past.   A bright and intense colour, with shimmering golden hints. On the nose complex and expressive. Marries freshness and maturity, with notes of marzipan, mirabelles and subtle vanilla and buttery aromas.   In the mouth, opulent and silky. Both ample and precise, showing notes of custard  and dried fruit. The finish, fine and long, is marked by a delicately spicy component.   Grape Variety: This Cuvee Perle is a very exclusive blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, all the grapes being selected from Grand Cru villages of Chouilly, Aÿ and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.   Technical Characteristics: Dosage – 6 g/l Average 8-years ageing on the lees   Pairing with food: Thanks to its remarkable pedigree in terms  of grapes making up the blend, Perle d’Ayala 2005 is a great match for noble dishes, such as seared foie gras, chicken with a mushroom sauce or braised veal sweetbreads.   History: One of the original 26 Grand Marque Champagne Houses, Ayala has had a noble history since its inception in 1860 when Edmond de Ayala received the magnificent Chateau as the dowry for his wedding. Located in Aÿ, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims vineyards, Ayala naturally focuses on Grand Cru Pinot Noir for its Brut Majeur and its Vintage Brut. Ayala is a “small” house, the artisan of champagne-making.   Review: “Toasty, complex and intense with lovely bright fruit and herby freshness. The palate is rich and intense with bright, complex fruit. Beautifully intense and complex with real freshness. 94/100” Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak, June 2010